Description and History of Strasburg Cathedral and Clock by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 10, 1882

Description and History of Strasburg Cathedral and Clock.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

Thinking that perhaps the readers of the SIGNS might be interested in a brief description of the cathedral at Strasburg, Germany, and the wonderful clock which it contains, I will relate a few facts concerning them, which I learned while in the place. We recently passed through the city on our way to visit persons in Dresden who are interested in the truth, and while waiting for the train, visited this cathedral. In Europe it is no uncommon thing to find cathedrals and other structures which have stood for hundreds of years. Connected with these buildings there are many things of interest to every reader of history, especially those who have never visited Europe.

The spot upon which this cathedral now stands, and the buildings which have from time to time been erected upon it, have a wonderful story. Catholic tradition is fruitful in miraculous circumstances connected with their earliest history. It is said that the place has been consecrated, from times most remote, to the worship of some deity. The Celts, the first inhabitants of the country, here worshiped their god of war, and in times of great calamity offered human sacrifices. Their huts were built around this spot. After the conquest of Gaul by the Romans, a fortified town was built, and a temple erected, which was dedicated to Hercules and Mars. There may be some truth in this, for in the present cathedral there are representations in stone of both Hercules and Mars, also something to favor nearly all of the traditional stories which are told respecting the place.

For the erection of the first Christian church at this place no reliable date is given, but it is supposed to have been in the fourth century. In the sixth century it is said that Clovis erected a church upon this site. It was built of wood, with a flat roof, and supported by earthen walls. The Franks changed the name of the place from Argentoratum to that of Strasburg. The Merovigian kings granted favors to those churches founded by their predecessors. The valuable presents bestowed upon the bishopric of Strasburg enabled the inhabitants to greatly embellish and enlarge the cathedral, which was consecrated to the virgin Mary. Notwithstanding this consecration to the holy virgin, with whose statue it was adorned, and the fact that Catholic zeal has made it sacred by rich offerings and holy blessings, the earthquake, lightning, cruel wars, and devastating fires have may times made its rebuilding and repairing necessary. In 873 it was destroyed by fire. In 1002 it was plundered and set on fire by the soldiers of Hermann, the Duke of Suabia. In 1007 a thunderbolt accomplished its destruction. In 1015 the old foundation was removed; and after digging to the depth of five fathoms, stakes were driven, and the places between them filled with clay mixed with lime, fragments of brick, and coal. It is said that, in the construction of this church, two hundred thousand men were employed, who, supposing that they were working for the salvation of their souls, carried the enterprise forward with great rapidity. Notwithstanding this, it was one hundred years before they reached the roof. In 1113, 1140, 1142, 1150, it was more or less injured by fire, and in 1176 the destruction was completed. It was, with the exception of the towers, rebuilt by Conrad, of Litchenburg, in 1275. The following year he laid the brick for a tower with his own hands. A quarrel arising concerning his trowel, one man was killed, which was considered a bad omen. In 1279, 1289, and 1291, it was partially destroyed by earthquakes, and in 1298 by another fire. In 1365, the north tower was repaired and completed. Three years later it was again struck by lightning. In 1384, another fire destroyed the organ, but did little other damage. In the years 1540, 1555, 1568, 1624, and 1625, it was struck by lightning, from which it received much injury. In 1654, the spire upon which was the virgin Mary was destroyed by lightning. In 1728, it was shaken by another earthquake, and in 1759, injured by lightning. In 1870, the roof was riddled by shells, and taking fire, was much injured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT BUILDING.

The height of the inclosure is ninety-six feet; the height of the tower is four hundred and thirty-three feet; the length of the building is three hundred and eighty feet; width, one hundred and thirty-five feet. The roof is supported by two rows of massive pillars inside of the building. There are a number of rooms in the building, and many rich paintings, some of which represent apostles, others represent eminent personages both good and bad. Purgatory and hell are also vividly represented. In this scene the virgin Mary and Christ stand waiting to rescue the souls of deceased persons, in answer to the prayers of their friends; but as these prayers are not received, the poor souls are plunged into the lake of fire.

When the devout worshipers are disabled in an arm, hand, or any part of the body, they have that portion carved and hung up in the presence of the Virgin, who holds the Saviour in her arms. Candles are then lighted. The object of this is to remind the Virgin and her Son of their sufferings, so that they will pity and relieve them. We saw many representations of portions of the body suspended for this purpose. Services are performed in the cathedral every day.

There are six Mosaic windows on one side of the building, which cost $30,000 each. Those on the other side are in imitation of these costly ones.

THE STRASBURG ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK.

This is said to be the most wonderful clock in the world. Traces of it are found in Strasburg as far back as 1352. The present clock is not the original one, but similar to it. Some of its parts have been perfected by modern science, while other portions remain the same. In 1547, the construction of this clock was entrusted to three men; Michael Herr, Christian Herlin, and Nicholas Pruguer, who immediately commenced the work, but died leaving it to be done by others. It was not until 1836 that this clock was brought to its present state of perfection. This was accomplished by Mr. Schuilgue, a watchmaker of Strasburg, who devoted four years to the work. In the lower portion of the clock is a large dial twelve feet in diameter, which indicates all the variable holy days, regulating itself each leap-year, also during the last day of each year for the coming year. Upon this dial is also given the day of the month and of the year, the hands making a circuit once a year. In front of this is a globe which revolves upon its axis each twenty-four hours, and which, like the earth, makes a complete revolution once a year. This, in connection with the dial, shows each season in its turn. Above this is seen the moon in its different phases, corresponding to its appearance in the heavens. Taken together it is an ecclesiastical computation, a planetarium representing the revolution of the planets, the phases of the moon, the eclipses of the sun and moon calculated from the most remote times.

There is also above this a dial indicating the exact time of day, under which is an opening in the framework of the clock. In this opening there appears each day a vehicle drawn by two animals, representing the god which has been worshiped on each respective day. On Sunday, the sun appears in a golden chariot, on Monday, the moon, and so on through the week. Sitting on each side of the clock dial is an angel, one of whom holds a hammer with which he strikes the hour; the other an hour-glass, which he turns over when notified by the threading of the bell. Above the moon is another opening in the framework, in the center of which appears each quarter of an hour a representation of one of the four periods of life around which childhood, youth, and old age are represented as passing.

At a quarter past each hour the representation of childhood appears in the center, and a child comes out of one side of the opening, strikes the bell, and passes on. At the end of the next quarter, a figure appears representing youth, and a youth comes out from the same place, strikes the bell and disappears. At the close of another quarter of an hour manhood is represented in the same manner, and at the close of the hour grim death appears in the center with his scythe to cut down life, while an old man, bent with age, appears on the scene; grim death strikes the bell, the hour glass turns in the hands of the angel below, and age passes from the scene. This occurs every hour, forcibly reminding the beholder of the shortness of life and the certainty of death.

Above all this there is still another opening in the clock frame. In the center above is a figure representing Christ. At the stroke of twelve each noon, the twelve apostles following each other from the right hand side of the opening, pass before Christ and bow their heads while he lifts his hands and blesses them. Perched upon a high elevation upon the left is a cock, which, while this is taking place, in a most life-like manner stretches his neck, claps his wings, and in a voice so natural as to be hardly distinguishable from that of a live bird, crows three times. It is said that this wonderful cock has been in existence, faithfully performing his work, since the fourteenth century. Whatever repairs the clock has required from time to time it has not been necessary to repair this part of the wonderful mechanism. During all these years he has been faithfully at his post, reminding visitors of the unfaithfulness of Peter in denying his Lord.

Upon the sides of the clock are sculptures representing angels, etc., which are very common in Europe. As we stood with a large number of persons listening to the clock as it struck at noon, and to the crowing of the cock, and saw "old time," with his grim features, striking the bell, the passing of old age, the turning of the hour-glass in the hands of the angel, all stood in breathless silence until the guide announced that the doors would be closed until two o'clock, deeply impressed with the moral lesson it taught.